You may earn a maximum of 3 points toward your final grade by doing the above and answering the questions and submitting them on time (no later than Friday, August, 25). Any worksheets submitted after the deadline will get a 0.
You will be rewarded a maximum of 3 points, if I judge your work to be above average. You will receive 2 points if your work is average, that is it may have a few minor mistakes in some of the answers but demonstrates correct grammar and indicates that some, but not all, of the answers, are acceptable and well expressed. You will earn only 1 point if you simply answered the questions and/or if you use poor grammar and if there are signs that you have not read the material on which your answers are based.
1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Trifles. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
The scene of Trifles opens to a picture seemingly frozen in time. The farmhouse we find ourselves in seems to be in various states of disarray, chores are left half-finished, bread lies on the counter, and the air is absent of any chirp or any other cheerful noise. We're introduced to a situation where a man has been found strangled, in his own home while he slept in his bed. His newly made widow is found as the main suspect and resides in jail. We find ourselves in the company of several people who are investigating the early twentieth century crime scene. The sheriff, county attorney, and a Mr.Hale seem to be the most bold figures when we first arrive in our scene, whilst Mrs.Peters and Mrs.Hale take a backseat to the misogynistic men.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion in this play was the discovery of the dead bird, this discovery escalates the feelings of the characters. As they piece together what has happened they become unsure of themselves, they deny perfectly logical conclusions and show signs of being extremely nervous. When the men discover them downstairs they quickly hide the box and lie to the men, revealing the significance of the birds mangled body.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The setting of this play is important because it is before women had the right to vote, and before they were taken seriously. This context explains why the men are indifferent and not very serious when the women discover evidence that could be important to the case, they dismiss it as the " Trifles" of women.
4. State the dramatic question or questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Is Mrs. Wright really responsible for the death of her husband, and if so what was her motive? Why do the men not take the women's words seriously?
5. Use Ms. Hale to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is the dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Trifles the wants of Ms. Hale change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles for Ms. Hale.
Mrs. Hale wants at the beginning to discover who stole Mrs.Wright's voice and happiness, and perhaps also to find out why they drifted so far apart. Perhaps she's motivated by guilt for not being more of a friend to her before her husbands murder, she's trapped in her own mind trying to help by discovering the truth. Towards the end after the discovery of the bird her drives are loyalty to her gender, in protecting someone who was abused by their husband, and also a symbolic mending of their relationship by hiding the bird.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Trifles.
The most theatrical moments in the play, I'd say is in the moment before the play when we pan around the scene of undone chores and an unclean house, telling us part of the story without uttering a single word. Another theatrical scene is when they are attempting to hide the bird and it falls to pieces and they stand helpless as the men enter the room. The silence between them allows the audience to take in the gravity of the situation and what they're deciding to do.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Trifles. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
Important images seem to elaborate upon the coldness of the home and the relationship between the Wrights. The fact that the play is set in dead winter, and the low fire help us physically feel the context of the house. The unkempt kitchen, normally a warm and happy place is in complete disorder, perhaps reflecting the chaotic relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Wright. The bird with it's neck ringed symbolizes the fragility of Mrs.Wright's mental state and the final death of her spirit. The title "Trifles" helps us understand the mindset and treatment of women during this time. Something that may seem insignificant to some people, stitching, an unkempt kitchen, a bird can mean the world to others.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Trifles.
The unjust treatment of women in the early twentieth century. The importance of seemingly simple things. Relationship abuse. The amount of undue stress that can send people over the edge.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with Trifles? Is family redefined in Trifles?
Family in this play is looked at through a cold lens. It depicts the emptiness and absence of love within the Wright household, the oppression of self expression by those who you love. It depicts love and family in a desperate light, clinging to any pretty thing that sings for some form of kindness. However it also illustrates the strong bond between these women, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters feel somewhat guilty about their absence in their neighbors lives family is redefined in their willingness to go to extremes for their friend they know is a murder, a criminal but a justified one.
You may earn a maximum of 3 points toward your final grade by doing the above and answering the questions and submitting them on time (no later than Friday, August, 25). Any worksheets submitted after the deadline will get a 0.
You will be rewarded a maximum of 3 points, if I judge your work to be above average. You will receive 2 points if your work is average, that is it may have a few minor mistakes in some of the answers but demonstrates correct grammar and indicates that some, but not all, of the answers, are acceptable and well expressed. You will earn only 1 point if you simply answered the questions and/or if you use poor grammar and if there are signs that you have not read the material on which your answers are based.
1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Trifles. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
The scene of Trifles opens to a picture seemingly frozen in time. The farmhouse we find ourselves in seems to be in various states of disarray, chores are left half-finished, bread lies on the counter, and the air is absent of any chirp or any other cheerful noise. We're introduced to a situation where a man has been found strangled, in his own home while he slept in his bed. His newly made widow is found as the main suspect and resides in jail. We find ourselves in the company of several people who are investigating the early twentieth century crime scene. The sheriff, county attorney, and a Mr.Hale seem to be the most bold figures when we first arrive in our scene, whilst Mrs.Peters and Mrs.Hale take a backseat to the misogynistic men.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion in this play was the discovery of the dead bird, this discovery escalates the feelings of the characters. As they piece together what has happened they become unsure of themselves, they deny perfectly logical conclusions and show signs of being extremely nervous. When the men discover them downstairs they quickly hide the box and lie to the men, revealing the significance of the birds mangled body.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The setting of this play is important because it is before women had the right to vote, and before they were taken seriously. This context explains why the men are indifferent and not very serious when the women discover evidence that could be important to the case, they dismiss it as the " Trifles" of women.
4. State the dramatic question or questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Is Mrs. Wright really responsible for the death of her husband, and if so what was her motive? Why do the men not take the women's words seriously?
5. Use Ms. Hale to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is the dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Trifles the wants of Ms. Hale change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles for Ms. Hale.
Mrs. Hale wants at the beginning to discover who stole Mrs.Wright's voice and happiness, and perhaps also to find out why they drifted so far apart. Perhaps she's motivated by guilt for not being more of a friend to her before her husbands murder, she's trapped in her own mind trying to help by discovering the truth. Towards the end after the discovery of the bird her drives are loyalty to her gender, in protecting someone who was abused by their husband, and also a symbolic mending of their relationship by hiding the bird.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Trifles.
The most theatrical moments in the play, I'd say is in the moment before the play when we pan around the scene of undone chores and an unclean house, telling us part of the story without uttering a single word. Another theatrical scene is when they are attempting to hide the bird and it falls to pieces and they stand helpless as the men enter the room. The silence between them allows the audience to take in the gravity of the situation and what they're deciding to do.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Trifles. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
Important images seem to elaborate upon the coldness of the home and the relationship between the Wrights. The fact that the play is set in dead winter, and the low fire help us physically feel the context of the house. The unkempt kitchen, normally a warm and happy place is in complete disorder, perhaps reflecting the chaotic relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Wright. The bird with it's neck ringed symbolizes the fragility of Mrs.Wright's mental state and the final death of her spirit. The title "Trifles" helps us understand the mindset and treatment of women during this time. Something that may seem insignificant to some people, stitching, an unkempt kitchen, a bird can mean the world to others.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Trifles.
The unjust treatment of women in the early twentieth century. The importance of seemingly simple things. Relationship abuse. The amount of undue stress that can send people over the edge.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with Trifles? Is family redefined in Trifles?
Family in this play is looked at through a cold lens. It depicts the emptiness and absence of love within the Wright household, the oppression of self expression by those who you love. It depicts love and family in a desperate light, clinging to any pretty thing that sings for some form of kindness. However it also illustrates the strong bond between these women, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters feel somewhat guilty about their absence in their neighbors lives family is redefined in their willingness to go to extremes for their friend they know is a murder, a criminal but a justified one.